Supporters of DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, will march to rally support for the program Wednesday in Newton. There are nearly 700,000 DACA recipients residing in the United States, but many are worried these individuals, brought to the United States as children, may be at risk for being deported if they are not allowed to renew their status.
Wednesday’s march will begin at the Congregational United Church, 308 E. Second St. N. in Newton. Beginning at 3:45 p.m. marchers will gather at the church before heading to the Jasper County Courthouse for a brief rally. Organizers are marching to raise awareness in support of a “Clean Dream Act” which would give DACA recipients a path towards citizenship.
President Trump terminated the program, leaving applicants with a six month grace period to renew their applications before risking deportation. The deadline would have been March 5. On Monday the Supreme Court declined to take the case, leaving the issue for the lower courts to decide. A ruling issued by federal District Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California blocked the Trump administration’s termination of DACA, forcing the administration to continue to accept renewal applications from DREAMers. Monday’s ruling from the Supreme Court will keep the case in the lower courts, although the Court could take up the issue next year.
In Washington, the fight over DACA has led to competing proposals, aimed at providing DREAMers with a pathway to citizenship, although Republican and Democratic lawmakers are at odds over those proposals. Both of Iowa’s Republican senators, Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst have introduced a Secure and Succeed Act, which offers DACA recipients a path towards citizenship, while also allocating $25 billion for border security. Ernst said lawmakers need to find a solution for DACA.
“We must ensure a path forward for those who were brought here through no fault of their own as children, while also enforcing our laws, putting an end to illegal immigration, and strengthening our border security. This framework is a step toward addressing the legal, economic, and security concerns that are present in the current debate and the unique challenges that the DACA-eligible population faces, and I urge my colleagues to support this proposal,” Ernst said.
The controversial proposal would also end chain migration, as well as the diversity visa lottery program, proposal opposed by Democrats. In calling for a “Clean Dream” act marchers hope to continue to press lawmakers to ensure the security of dreamers.